ANGELS NOTEBOOK: NO CONCERNS OVER KENNARD'S PAST.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA 

Staff Writer

MINNEAPOLIS -- Jeff Kennard had not even reported to the Angels' Double-A Arkansas affiliate when team officials were already being asked about the pitcher's past indiscretions.

Kennard, who was acquired from the New York Yankees for Jose Molina late Saturday evening, was suspended for 15 games in June 2005 for violating Major League Baseball's performance-enhancing drug policy.

General manager Bill Stoneman and manager Mike Scioscia were both asked Sunday about about Kennard's history.

"We're aware of that but that's all fine, it's in the past and nothing has happened negative since that point and time," Stoneman said by phone before Sunday's game. "Hopefully he's learned his lesson and (will) go forward with it in a positive way. He's still throwing the ball very well and that thing was two years ago, so it happened and it's over. He moved forward from it and we should too."

Scioscia was brief with his comments.

"Naturally I'm sure it's been researched and I'm sure you're concerned, but I don't know much about it really, to be honest with you," Scioscia said.

Since Kennard was Yankees property up until the point when the trade went down, it's not like the Angels could interview the 25-year-old themselves. So how much research can be done?

"In terms of how he's doing, you just can't get answers to all of the questions you might have," Stoneman said. "What you have to rely on is that I'm sure he's a guy that has been tested since '05 and nothing's come up positive since then."

Act of faith: Jeff Mathis will take Saturday's trade as a compliment. Mathis was expected to be sent to Triple-A Salt Lake after Saturday's game to make roster room for Sunday's starter Joe Saunders, but Molina was sent off instead.

"It feels good and hopefully I can stay for a little longer now," Mathis said. "You appreciate any chance you can get."

One reason the Angels were comfortable keeping the 24-year-old Mathis as a backup to the 25-year-old Napoli was his performance in two recent outings.

Mathis was behind the plate for John Lackey's solid performance July 7 at New York and Kelvim Escobar's dominating outing Thursday at Tampa Bay.

"(His) next step is bringing it on to a major-league field, and his whole presence is much different than any time last year," Scioscia said of Mathis. "I think it gives us a lot of confidence that this is going to be a guy who we can move forward with, this year making us better and next year and help Bill facilitate our move."

Matthews, Willits sit: A day after crashing into the outfield wall, Gary Matthews Jr. was given a day off. Matthews said his body was sore, including a sore left wrist, but Scioscia said the day off was not injury-related.

"It feels like the morning after you get in a car crash, you get rear-ended," Matthews said. "The coconut's OK, as long as the coconut's all right, we're in good shape."

Matthews has been struggling at the plate lately, with just four hits in 19 at-bats on the road trip.

Reggie Willits, another Angels hitter in an offensive slide, also wasn't in the starting lineup. His frustrations have boiled over lately, as he showed rare emotion on two strikeouts during the Twins series. On one, Willits gestured toward the third-base umpire after getting rung up on an attempted check swing.

"It's probably a little frustration, but that's not anything I'm proud of," Willits said. "That's not the type of person I am, but I think sometimes when you're going through a tough time some frustration will kick in like that."